But now the wave is moving back in the other direction. You may find craft beer in every boozer, but it's likely to only be one of four brands and most of those are being swallowed up by the sort of conglomerations we rebelled against in the first place.

I decided on Camden festival this year. A smaller fringe but no less exciting. I've heard some wonderful things about the Camden fringe comedy festival. When I was accepted and given a fabulous venue at the Etcetera Theater I was unaware of one fundamental thing. I was told I had to price my own show!

This Sunday is Mother's Day, a time to appreciate the women in our lives and the family unit. Sadly one in four women, many of whom will be mothers, will experience domestic abuse in their lives and will wake up feeling scared, apprehensive or isolated.

Britain's high streets are becoming more and more bland. The same chain stores dominate shopping parades across the country. With this in mind, here's a list of ten independent shops in London that don't fit the mould...

Boris described the planning policy as "utterly crazy" and said that "Government is totally wrong on changes to permitted development rights... It reduces the space where firms can start up". Let's hope more legislators see sense soon, and stop this threat to independent businesses that are so vital for our creative economy and community.

When you think of Camden what springs to mind? Banksy knock offs at the market? Goths? Amy Winehouse tribute acts? Dawdling groups of Spanish tourists? The stench of overcooked sweet and sour chicken? Drunk teenagers throwing up at 2am?

I love coffee; I need coffee. Coffee is my vice but as Lou Reed said 'Vice is a virtue and virtue is a vice' so that's good enough for me. As I writer, I spend a lot of time in coffee shops curating content. But if the vibes not right and the coffee is bad then this can sometimes be nigh impossible.

As a professional actor of 25 years, since being the first disabled actor to appear in a UK soap back in 1991, and the chair of the actor's union Equity's Deaf and Disabled Members Committee I know all too well just how high the standard of talent is within the disabled acting community.

What is important now, and what we will continue to petition Government on, is that the uncertainty that has been blighting businesses in Camden is removed as soon as possible. The safeguarding of this section of the route has meant that businesses in Camden have been reluctant to invest or hire skilled staff.

London has so much to offer, you can party at night, browse markets in the day and everything in between. It wasn't until February last year when my boyfriend fulfilled a childhood dream of mine by taking me to New York that I realised how utterly in love I was with this city.

Alex's attack on "Shoreditchification" goes beyond the shores of Brick Lane, Hackney Road, Shoreditch High Street, Kingsland Road and surrounding areas. It's a real dig at what Londoners are all about. Get over it Alex, go and mingle with your gentrified buddies and chill out.

HS2 Ltd wants to plough through the centre of Camden, taking over the bridges and shutting down businesses for years to create a link with the old high speed railway to Europe. On paper, building this line means road closures, bridge widening, transport disruptions. In practice, it could mean the end of Camden as we know it.

This particular Bill is something of a behemoth... with a colossal 50,000 page environmental impact assessment to accompany it. Within those 50,000 pages lies the future of Camden Town. Every single road closure, bridge widening and business affected is supposed to be taken into consideration within the report. It's why it's so big. However, we don't think they've taken the impact on Camden seriously enough.

HS2 needs to link up to our existing high speed rail line that takes us to France. The current proposal for this would mean a link that cuts directly through the heart of Camden Town... 90% of Camden Lock market falls within 30 meters of site, as does 95% of Stables market. Hawley market would effectively be closed, with other iconic markets devastated by the project.

Playing the last date of their recent tour before hot stepping to Europe and America next, Bastille have grown and so has their music. It's crazy that in just nine months since first meeting them that things have come so far.